diff --git a/accounts/accounts.go b/accounts/accounts.go
index ba57577925..157112c8c1 100644
--- a/accounts/accounts.go
+++ b/accounts/accounts.go
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@
 package accounts
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 
 	ethereum "github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/core/types"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/event"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
 
 // Account represents an Ethereum account located at a specific location defined
@@ -148,6 +150,34 @@ type Backend interface {
 	Subscribe(sink chan<- WalletEvent) event.Subscription
 }
 
+// TextHash is a helper function that calculates a hash for the given message that can be
+// safely used to calculate a signature from.
+//
+// The hash is calulcated as
+//
+//	keccak256("\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n"${message length}${message}).
+//
+// This gives context to the signed message and prevents signing of transactions.
+func TextHash(data []byte) []byte {
+	hash, _ := TextAndHash(data)
+	return hash
+}
+
+// TextAndHash is a helper function that calculates a hash for the given message that can be
+// safely used to calculate a signature from.
+//
+// The hash is calulcated as
+//
+//	keccak256("\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n"${message length}${message}).
+//
+// This gives context to the signed message and prevents signing of transactions.
+func TextAndHash(data []byte) ([]byte, string) {
+	msg := fmt.Sprintf("\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n%d%s", len(data), string(data))
+	hasher := sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256()
+	hasher.Write([]byte(msg))
+	return hasher.Sum(nil), msg
+}
+
 // WalletEventType represents the different event types that can be fired by
 // the wallet subscription subsystem.
 type WalletEventType int
diff --git a/cmd/wnode/main.go b/cmd/wnode/main.go
index 5441428e88..5fa29ab96c 100644
--- a/cmd/wnode/main.go
+++ b/cmd/wnode/main.go
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ func processArgs() {
 	}
 
 	if *asymmetricMode && len(*argPub) > 0 {
-		pub = crypto.ToECDSAPub(common.FromHex(*argPub))
-		if !isKeyValid(pub) {
+		var err error
+		if pub, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(common.FromHex(*argPub)); err != nil {
 			utils.Fatalf("invalid public key")
 		}
 	}
@@ -337,9 +337,8 @@ func configureNode() {
 			if b == nil {
 				utils.Fatalf("Error: can not convert hexadecimal string")
 			}
-			pub = crypto.ToECDSAPub(b)
-			if !isKeyValid(pub) {
-				utils.Fatalf("Error: invalid public key")
+			if pub, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(b); err != nil {
+				utils.Fatalf("Error: invalid peer public key")
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/core/tx_list.go b/core/tx_list.go
index d36f222b3f..ab3fb9886b 100644
--- a/core/tx_list.go
+++ b/core/tx_list.go
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func (l *txList) Add(tx *types.Transaction, priceBump uint64) (bool, *types.Tran
 		// Have to ensure that the new gas price is higher than the old gas
 		// price as well as checking the percentage threshold to ensure that
 		// this is accurate for low (Wei-level) gas price replacements
-		if old.GasPrice().Cmp(tx.GasPrice()) >= 0 || threshold.Cmp(tx.GasPrice()) > 0 {
+		if old.GasPriceCmp(tx) >= 0 || tx.GasPriceIntCmp(threshold) < 0 {
 			return false, nil
 		}
 	}
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ func (h priceHeap) Swap(i, j int) { h[i], h[j] = h[j], h[i] }
 
 func (h priceHeap) Less(i, j int) bool {
 	// Sort primarily by price, returning the cheaper one
-	switch h[i].GasPrice().Cmp(h[j].GasPrice()) {
+	switch h[i].GasPriceCmp(h[j]) {
 	case -1:
 		return true
 	case 1:
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ func (l *txPricedList) Cap(threshold *big.Int, local *accountSet) types.Transact
 			continue
 		}
 		// Stop the discards if we've reached the threshold
-		if tx.GasPrice().Cmp(threshold) >= 0 {
+		if tx.GasPriceIntCmp(threshold) >= 0 {
 			save = append(save, tx)
 			break
 		}
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ func (l *txPricedList) Underpriced(tx *types.Transaction, local *accountSet) boo
 		return false
 	}
 	cheapest := []*types.Transaction(*l.items)[0]
-	return cheapest.GasPrice().Cmp(tx.GasPrice()) >= 0
+	return cheapest.GasPriceCmp(tx) >= 0
 }
 
 // Discard finds a number of most underpriced transactions, removes them from the
diff --git a/core/tx_list_test.go b/core/tx_list_test.go
index f0ec8eb8b4..36a0196f1e 100644
--- a/core/tx_list_test.go
+++ b/core/tx_list_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package core
 
 import (
+	"math/big"
 	"math/rand"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -49,3 +50,21 @@ func TestStrictTxListAdd(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func BenchmarkTxListAdd(t *testing.B) {
+	// Generate a list of transactions to insert
+	key, _ := crypto.GenerateKey()
+
+	txs := make(types.Transactions, 100000)
+	for i := 0; i < len(txs); i++ {
+		txs[i] = transaction(uint64(i), 0, key)
+	}
+	// Insert the transactions in a random order
+	list := newTxList(true)
+	priceLimit := big.NewInt(int64(DefaultTxPoolConfig.PriceLimit))
+	t.ResetTimer()
+	for _, v := range rand.Perm(len(txs)) {
+		list.Add(txs[v], DefaultTxPoolConfig.PriceBump)
+		list.Filter(priceLimit, DefaultTxPoolConfig.PriceBump, nil, nil)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/tx_pool.go b/core/tx_pool.go
index 64eac3e403..ecb4c5a85c 100644
--- a/core/tx_pool.go
+++ b/core/tx_pool.go
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) validateTx(tx *types.Transaction, local bool) error {
 	}
 	// Drop non-local transactions under our own minimal accepted gas price
 	local = local || pool.locals.contains(from) // account may be local even if the transaction arrived from the network
-	if !local && pool.gasPrice.Cmp(tx.GasPrice()) > 0 {
+	if !local && tx.GasPriceIntCmp(pool.gasPrice) < 0 {
 		if !tx.IsSpecialTransaction() || (pool.IsSigner != nil && !pool.IsSigner(from)) {
 			return ErrUnderpriced
 		}
@@ -1337,8 +1337,8 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteExecutables(accounts []common.Address) []*types.Trans
 		for _, tx := range forwards {
 			hash := tx.Hash()
 			pool.all.Remove(hash)
-			log.Trace("Removed old queued transaction", "hash", hash)
 		}
+		log.Trace("Removed old queued transactions", "count", len(forwards))
 		// Drop all transactions that are too costly (low balance or out of gas)
 		var number *big.Int = nil
 		if pool.chain.CurrentHeader() != nil {
@@ -1348,8 +1348,8 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteExecutables(accounts []common.Address) []*types.Trans
 		for _, tx := range drops {
 			hash := tx.Hash()
 			pool.all.Remove(hash)
-			log.Trace("Removed unpayable queued transaction", "hash", hash)
 		}
+		log.Trace("Removed unpayable queued transactions", "count", len(drops))
 		queuedNofundsMeter.Mark(int64(len(drops)))
 
 		// Gather all executable transactions and promote them
@@ -1357,10 +1357,10 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteExecutables(accounts []common.Address) []*types.Trans
 		for _, tx := range readies {
 			hash := tx.Hash()
 			if pool.promoteTx(addr, hash, tx) {
-				log.Trace("Promoting queued transaction", "hash", hash)
 				promoted = append(promoted, tx)
 			}
 		}
+		log.Trace("Promoted queued transactions", "count", len(promoted))
 		queuedGauge.Dec(int64(len(readies)))
 
 		// Drop all transactions over the allowed limit
diff --git a/core/types/block.go b/core/types/block.go
index cbeb565373..042db62323 100644
--- a/core/types/block.go
+++ b/core/types/block.go
@@ -23,14 +23,16 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"math/big"
 	"sort"
+	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 	"unsafe"
 
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common/hexutil"
-	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/crypto/sha3"
+	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/crypto"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/rlp"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -155,10 +157,19 @@ func (h *Header) Size() common.StorageSize {
 	return common.StorageSize(unsafe.Sizeof(*h)) + common.StorageSize(len(h.Extra)+(h.Difficulty.BitLen()+h.Number.BitLen()+h.Time.BitLen())/8)
 }
 
+// hasherPool holds LegacyKeccak hashers.
+var hasherPool = sync.Pool{
+	New: func() interface{} {
+		return sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256()
+	},
+}
+
 func rlpHash(x interface{}) (h common.Hash) {
-	hw := sha3.NewKeccak256()
-	rlp.Encode(hw, x)
-	hw.Sum(h[:0])
+	sha := hasherPool.Get().(crypto.KeccakState)
+	defer hasherPool.Put(sha)
+	sha.Reset()
+	rlp.Encode(sha, x)
+	sha.Read(h[:])
 	return h
 }
 
diff --git a/core/types/transaction.go b/core/types/transaction.go
index 03f1bbe39a..f5fbad376a 100644
--- a/core/types/transaction.go
+++ b/core/types/transaction.go
@@ -188,9 +188,15 @@ func (tx *Transaction) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
 func (tx *Transaction) Data() []byte       { return common.CopyBytes(tx.data.Payload) }
 func (tx *Transaction) Gas() uint64        { return tx.data.GasLimit }
 func (tx *Transaction) GasPrice() *big.Int { return new(big.Int).Set(tx.data.Price) }
-func (tx *Transaction) Value() *big.Int    { return new(big.Int).Set(tx.data.Amount) }
-func (tx *Transaction) Nonce() uint64      { return tx.data.AccountNonce }
-func (tx *Transaction) CheckNonce() bool   { return true }
+func (tx *Transaction) GasPriceCmp(other *Transaction) int {
+	return tx.data.Price.Cmp(other.data.Price)
+}
+func (tx *Transaction) GasPriceIntCmp(other *big.Int) int {
+	return tx.data.Price.Cmp(other)
+}
+func (tx *Transaction) Value() *big.Int  { return new(big.Int).Set(tx.data.Amount) }
+func (tx *Transaction) Nonce() uint64    { return tx.data.AccountNonce }
+func (tx *Transaction) CheckNonce() bool { return true }
 
 // To returns the recipient address of the transaction.
 // It returns nil if the transaction is a contract creation.
diff --git a/crypto/crypto.go b/crypto/crypto.go
index 2213bf0c14..745f9c909f 100644
--- a/crypto/crypto.go
+++ b/crypto/crypto.go
@@ -17,57 +17,81 @@
 package crypto
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"crypto/ecdsa"
 	"crypto/elliptic"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"hash"
 	"io"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"math/big"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common/math"
-	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/crypto/sha3"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/rlp"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
 
+//SignatureLength indicates the byte length required to carry a signature with recovery id.
+const SignatureLength = 64 + 1 // 64 bytes ECDSA signature + 1 byte recovery id
+
+// RecoveryIDOffset points to the byte offset within the signature that contains the recovery id.
+const RecoveryIDOffset = 64
+
+// DigestLength sets the signature digest exact length
+const DigestLength = 32
+
 var (
-	secp256k1_N, _  = new(big.Int).SetString("fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffebaaedce6af48a03bbfd25e8cd0364141", 16)
-	secp256k1_halfN = new(big.Int).Div(secp256k1_N, big.NewInt(2))
+	secp256k1N, _  = new(big.Int).SetString("fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffebaaedce6af48a03bbfd25e8cd0364141", 16)
+	secp256k1halfN = new(big.Int).Div(secp256k1N, big.NewInt(2))
 )
 
+var errInvalidPubkey = errors.New("invalid secp256k1 public key")
+
+// KeccakState wraps sha3.state. In addition to the usual hash methods, it also supports
+// Read to get a variable amount of data from the hash state. Read is faster than Sum
+// because it doesn't copy the internal state, but also modifies the internal state.
+type KeccakState interface {
+	hash.Hash
+	Read([]byte) (int, error)
+}
+
 // Keccak256 calculates and returns the Keccak256 hash of the input data.
 func Keccak256(data ...[]byte) []byte {
-	d := sha3.NewKeccak256()
+	b := make([]byte, 32)
+	d := sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(KeccakState)
 	for _, b := range data {
 		d.Write(b)
 	}
-	return d.Sum(nil)
+	d.Read(b)
+	return b
 }
 
 // Keccak256Hash calculates and returns the Keccak256 hash of the input data,
 // converting it to an internal Hash data structure.
 func Keccak256Hash(data ...[]byte) (h common.Hash) {
-	d := sha3.NewKeccak256()
+	d := sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(KeccakState)
 	for _, b := range data {
 		d.Write(b)
 	}
-	d.Sum(h[:0])
+	d.Read(h[:])
 	return h
 }
 
 // Keccak512 calculates and returns the Keccak512 hash of the input data.
 func Keccak512(data ...[]byte) []byte {
-	d := sha3.NewKeccak512()
+	d := sha3.NewLegacyKeccak512()
 	for _, b := range data {
 		d.Write(b)
 	}
 	return d.Sum(nil)
 }
 
-// Creates an ethereum address given the bytes and the nonce
+// CreateAddress creates an ethereum address given the bytes and the nonce
 func CreateAddress(b common.Address, nonce uint64) common.Address {
 	data, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes([]interface{}{b, nonce})
 	return common.BytesToAddress(Keccak256(data)[12:])
@@ -104,7 +128,7 @@ func toECDSA(d []byte, strict bool) (*ecdsa.PrivateKey, error) {
 	priv.D = new(big.Int).SetBytes(d)
 
 	// The priv.D must < N
-	if priv.D.Cmp(secp256k1_N) >= 0 {
+	if priv.D.Cmp(secp256k1N) >= 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid private key, >=N")
 	}
 	// The priv.D must not be zero or negative.
@@ -127,12 +151,13 @@ func FromECDSA(priv *ecdsa.PrivateKey) []byte {
 	return math.PaddedBigBytes(priv.D, priv.Params().BitSize/8)
 }
 
-func ToECDSAPub(pub []byte) *ecdsa.PublicKey {
-	if len(pub) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
+// UnmarshalPubkey converts bytes to a secp256k1 public key.
+func UnmarshalPubkey(pub []byte) (*ecdsa.PublicKey, error) {
 	x, y := elliptic.Unmarshal(S256(), pub)
-	return &ecdsa.PublicKey{Curve: S256(), X: x, Y: y}
+	if x == nil {
+		return nil, errInvalidPubkey
+	}
+	return &ecdsa.PublicKey{Curve: S256(), X: x, Y: y}, nil
 }
 
 func FromECDSAPub(pub *ecdsa.PublicKey) []byte {
@@ -145,38 +170,77 @@ func FromECDSAPub(pub *ecdsa.PublicKey) []byte {
 // HexToECDSA parses a secp256k1 private key.
 func HexToECDSA(hexkey string) (*ecdsa.PrivateKey, error) {
 	b, err := hex.DecodeString(hexkey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid hex string")
+	if byteErr, ok := err.(hex.InvalidByteError); ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid hex character %q in private key", byte(byteErr))
+	} else if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("invalid hex data for private key")
 	}
 	return ToECDSA(b)
 }
 
 // LoadECDSA loads a secp256k1 private key from the given file.
 func LoadECDSA(file string) (*ecdsa.PrivateKey, error) {
-	buf := make([]byte, 64)
 	fd, err := os.Open(file)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	defer fd.Close()
-	if _, err := io.ReadFull(fd, buf); err != nil {
+
+	r := bufio.NewReader(fd)
+	buf := make([]byte, 64)
+	n, err := readASCII(buf, r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	} else if n != len(buf) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("key file too short, want 64 hex characters")
+	}
+	if err := checkKeyFileEnd(r); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	key, err := hex.DecodeString(string(buf))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+	return HexToECDSA(string(buf))
+}
+
+// readASCII reads into 'buf', stopping when the buffer is full or
+// when a non-printable control character is encountered.
+func readASCII(buf []byte, r *bufio.Reader) (n int, err error) {
+	for ; n < len(buf); n++ {
+		buf[n], err = r.ReadByte()
+		switch {
+		case err == io.EOF || buf[n] < '!':
+			return n, nil
+		case err != nil:
+			return n, err
+		}
+	}
+	return n, nil
+}
+
+// checkKeyFileEnd skips over additional newlines at the end of a key file.
+func checkKeyFileEnd(r *bufio.Reader) error {
+	for i := 0; ; i++ {
+		b, err := r.ReadByte()
+		switch {
+		case err == io.EOF:
+			return nil
+		case err != nil:
+			return err
+		case b != '\n' && b != '\r':
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid character %q at end of key file", b)
+		case i >= 2:
+			return errors.New("key file too long, want 64 hex characters")
+		}
 	}
-	return ToECDSA(key)
 }
 
 // SaveECDSA saves a secp256k1 private key to the given file with
 // restrictive permissions. The key data is saved hex-encoded.
 func SaveECDSA(file string, key *ecdsa.PrivateKey) error {
 	k := hex.EncodeToString(FromECDSA(key))
-	return os.WriteFile(file, []byte(k), 0600)
+	return ioutil.WriteFile(file, []byte(k), 0600)
 }
 
+// GenerateKey generates a new private key.
 func GenerateKey() (*ecdsa.PrivateKey, error) {
 	return ecdsa.GenerateKey(S256(), rand.Reader)
 }
@@ -189,11 +253,11 @@ func ValidateSignatureValues(v byte, r, s *big.Int, homestead bool) bool {
 	}
 	// reject upper range of s values (ECDSA malleability)
 	// see discussion in secp256k1/libsecp256k1/include/secp256k1.h
-	if homestead && s.Cmp(secp256k1_halfN) > 0 {
+	if homestead && s.Cmp(secp256k1halfN) > 0 {
 		return false
 	}
 	// Frontier: allow s to be in full N range
-	return r.Cmp(secp256k1_N) < 0 && s.Cmp(secp256k1_N) < 0 && (v == 0 || v == 1)
+	return r.Cmp(secp256k1N) < 0 && s.Cmp(secp256k1N) < 0 && (v == 0 || v == 1)
 }
 
 func PubkeyToAddress(p ecdsa.PublicKey) common.Address {
diff --git a/crypto/crypto_test.go b/crypto/crypto_test.go
index f1910e5c26..9e1bb2639b 100644
--- a/crypto/crypto_test.go
+++ b/crypto/crypto_test.go
@@ -20,11 +20,14 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"crypto/ecdsa"
 	"encoding/hex"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"math/big"
 	"os"
+	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common"
+	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common/hexutil"
 )
 
 var testAddrHex = "970e8128ab834e8eac17ab8e3812f010678cf791"
@@ -55,6 +58,33 @@ func BenchmarkSha3(b *testing.B) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestUnmarshalPubkey(t *testing.T) {
+	key, err := UnmarshalPubkey(nil)
+	if err != errInvalidPubkey || key != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error, got %v, %v", err, key)
+	}
+	key, err = UnmarshalPubkey([]byte{1, 2, 3})
+	if err != errInvalidPubkey || key != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error, got %v, %v", err, key)
+	}
+
+	var (
+		enc, _ = hex.DecodeString("04760c4460e5336ac9bbd87952a3c7ec4363fc0a97bd31c86430806e287b437fd1b01abc6e1db640cf3106b520344af1d58b00b57823db3e1407cbc433e1b6d04d")
+		dec    = &ecdsa.PublicKey{
+			Curve: S256(),
+			X:     hexutil.MustDecodeBig("0x760c4460e5336ac9bbd87952a3c7ec4363fc0a97bd31c86430806e287b437fd1"),
+			Y:     hexutil.MustDecodeBig("0xb01abc6e1db640cf3106b520344af1d58b00b57823db3e1407cbc433e1b6d04d"),
+		}
+	)
+	key, err = UnmarshalPubkey(enc)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no error, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(key, dec) {
+		t.Fatal("wrong result")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSign(t *testing.T) {
 	key, _ := HexToECDSA(testPrivHex)
 	addr := common.HexToAddress(testAddrHex)
@@ -68,7 +98,7 @@ func TestSign(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("ECRecover error: %s", err)
 	}
-	pubKey := ToECDSAPub(recoveredPub)
+	pubKey, _ := UnmarshalPubkey(recoveredPub)
 	recoveredAddr := PubkeyToAddress(*pubKey)
 	if addr != recoveredAddr {
 		t.Errorf("Address mismatch: want: %x have: %x", addr, recoveredAddr)
@@ -109,39 +139,82 @@ func TestNewContractAddress(t *testing.T) {
 	checkAddr(t, common.HexToAddress("c9ddedf451bc62ce88bf9292afb13df35b670699"), caddr2)
 }
 
-func TestLoadECDSAFile(t *testing.T) {
-	keyBytes := common.FromHex(testPrivHex)
-	fileName0 := "test_key0"
-	fileName1 := "test_key1"
-	checkKey := func(k *ecdsa.PrivateKey) {
-		checkAddr(t, PubkeyToAddress(k.PublicKey), common.HexToAddress(testAddrHex))
-		loadedKeyBytes := FromECDSA(k)
-		if !bytes.Equal(loadedKeyBytes, keyBytes) {
-			t.Fatalf("private key mismatch: want: %x have: %x", keyBytes, loadedKeyBytes)
+func TestLoadECDSA(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		input string
+		err   string
+	}{
+		// good
+		{input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef"},
+		{input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef\n"},
+		{input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef\n\r"},
+		{input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef\r\n"},
+		{input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef\n\n"},
+		{input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef\n\r"},
+		// bad
+		{
+			input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcde",
+			err:   "key file too short, want 64 hex characters",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcde\n",
+			err:   "key file too short, want 64 hex characters",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdeX",
+			err:   "invalid hex character 'X' in private key",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdefX",
+			err:   "invalid character 'X' at end of key file",
+		},
+		{
+			input: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef\n\n\n",
+			err:   "key file too long, want 64 hex characters",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		f, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "loadecdsa_test.*.txt")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		filename := f.Name()
+		f.WriteString(test.input)
+		f.Close()
+
+		_, err = LoadECDSA(filename)
+		switch {
+		case err != nil && test.err == "":
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected error for input %q:\n  %v", test.input, err)
+		case err != nil && err.Error() != test.err:
+			t.Fatalf("wrong error for input %q:\n  %v", test.input, err)
+		case err == nil && test.err != "":
+			t.Fatalf("LoadECDSA did not return error for input %q", test.input)
 		}
 	}
+}
 
-	os.WriteFile(fileName0, []byte(testPrivHex), 0600)
-	defer os.Remove(fileName0)
-
-	key0, err := LoadECDSA(fileName0)
+func TestSaveECDSA(t *testing.T) {
+	f, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "saveecdsa_test.*.txt")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	checkKey(key0)
+	file := f.Name()
+	f.Close()
+	defer os.Remove(file)
 
-	// again, this time with SaveECDSA instead of manual save:
-	err = SaveECDSA(fileName1, key0)
+	key, _ := HexToECDSA(testPrivHex)
+	if err := SaveECDSA(file, key); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	loaded, err := LoadECDSA(file)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	defer os.Remove(fileName1)
-
-	key1, err := LoadECDSA(fileName1)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(key, loaded) {
+		t.Fatal("loaded key not equal to saved key")
 	}
-	checkKey(key1)
 }
 
 func TestValidateSignatureValues(t *testing.T) {
@@ -153,7 +226,7 @@ func TestValidateSignatureValues(t *testing.T) {
 	minusOne := big.NewInt(-1)
 	one := common.Big1
 	zero := common.Big0
-	secp256k1nMinus1 := new(big.Int).Sub(secp256k1_N, common.Big1)
+	secp256k1nMinus1 := new(big.Int).Sub(secp256k1N, common.Big1)
 
 	// correct v,r,s
 	check(true, 0, one, one)
@@ -180,9 +253,9 @@ func TestValidateSignatureValues(t *testing.T) {
 	// correct sig with max r,s
 	check(true, 0, secp256k1nMinus1, secp256k1nMinus1)
 	// correct v, combinations of incorrect r,s at upper limit
-	check(false, 0, secp256k1_N, secp256k1nMinus1)
-	check(false, 0, secp256k1nMinus1, secp256k1_N)
-	check(false, 0, secp256k1_N, secp256k1_N)
+	check(false, 0, secp256k1N, secp256k1nMinus1)
+	check(false, 0, secp256k1nMinus1, secp256k1N)
+	check(false, 0, secp256k1N, secp256k1N)
 
 	// current callers ensures r,s cannot be negative, but let's test for that too
 	// as crypto package could be used stand-alone
diff --git a/eth/gasprice/gasprice.go b/eth/gasprice/gasprice.go
index 8dfaeec43a..5449279037 100644
--- a/eth/gasprice/gasprice.go
+++ b/eth/gasprice/gasprice.go
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ type transactionsByGasPrice []*types.Transaction
 
 func (t transactionsByGasPrice) Len() int           { return len(t) }
 func (t transactionsByGasPrice) Swap(i, j int)      { t[i], t[j] = t[j], t[i] }
-func (t transactionsByGasPrice) Less(i, j int) bool { return t[i].GasPrice().Cmp(t[j].GasPrice()) < 0 }
+func (t transactionsByGasPrice) Less(i, j int) bool { return t[i].GasPriceCmp(t[j]) < 0 }
 
 // getBlockPrices calculates the lowest transaction gas price in a given block
 // and sends it to the result channel. If the block is empty, price is nil.
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index d234802a1b..f2f7f01fbe 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -473,21 +473,19 @@ func (s *PrivateAccountAPI) Sign(ctx context.Context, data hexutil.Bytes, addr c
 //
 // https://github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/wiki/Management-APIs#personal_ecRecover
 func (s *PrivateAccountAPI) EcRecover(ctx context.Context, data, sig hexutil.Bytes) (common.Address, error) {
-	if len(sig) != 65 {
-		return common.Address{}, fmt.Errorf("signature must be 65 bytes long")
+	if len(sig) != crypto.SignatureLength {
+		return common.Address{}, fmt.Errorf("signature must be %d bytes long", crypto.SignatureLength)
 	}
-	if sig[64] != 27 && sig[64] != 28 {
+	if sig[crypto.RecoveryIDOffset] != 27 && sig[crypto.RecoveryIDOffset] != 28 {
 		return common.Address{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid Ethereum signature (V is not 27 or 28)")
 	}
-	sig[64] -= 27 // Transform yellow paper V from 27/28 to 0/1
+	sig[crypto.RecoveryIDOffset] -= 27 // Transform yellow paper V from 27/28 to 0/1
 
-	rpk, err := crypto.Ecrecover(signHash(data), sig)
+	rpk, err := crypto.SigToPub(accounts.TextHash(data), sig)
 	if err != nil {
 		return common.Address{}, err
 	}
-	pubKey := crypto.ToECDSAPub(rpk)
-	recoveredAddr := crypto.PubkeyToAddress(*pubKey)
-	return recoveredAddr, nil
+	return crypto.PubkeyToAddress(*rpk), nil
 }
 
 // SignAndSendTransaction was renamed to SendTransaction. This method is deprecated
diff --git a/p2p/rlpx.go b/p2p/rlpx.go
index 66efd41997..ea26b2f2ec 100644
--- a/p2p/rlpx.go
+++ b/p2p/rlpx.go
@@ -528,9 +528,9 @@ func importPublicKey(pubKey []byte) (*ecies.PublicKey, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid public key length %v (expect 64/65)", len(pubKey))
 	}
 	// TODO: fewer pointless conversions
-	pub := crypto.ToECDSAPub(pubKey65)
-	if pub.X == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid public key")
+	pub, err := crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(pubKey65)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	return ecies.ImportECDSAPublic(pub), nil
 }
diff --git a/swarm/services/swap/swap.go b/swarm/services/swap/swap.go
index be595b710b..153f058968 100644
--- a/swarm/services/swap/swap.go
+++ b/swarm/services/swap/swap.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ type PayProfile struct {
 	lock        sync.RWMutex
 }
 
-//create params with default values
+// create params with default values
 func NewDefaultSwapParams() *SwapParams {
 	return &SwapParams{
 		PayProfile: &PayProfile{},
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ func NewDefaultSwapParams() *SwapParams {
 	}
 }
 
-//this can only finally be set after all config options (file, cmd line, env vars)
-//have been evaluated
+// this can only finally be set after all config options (file, cmd line, env vars)
+// have been evaluated
 func (self *SwapParams) Init(contract common.Address, prvkey *ecdsa.PrivateKey) {
 	pubkey := &prvkey.PublicKey
 
@@ -141,8 +141,12 @@ func NewSwap(local *SwapParams, remote *SwapProfile, backend chequebook.Backend,
 	if !ok {
 		log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("invalid contract %v for peer %v: %v)", remote.Contract.Hex()[:8], proto, err))
 	} else {
+		pub, err := crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(common.FromHex(remote.PublicKey))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		// remote contract valid, create inbox
-		in, err = chequebook.NewInbox(local.privateKey, remote.Contract, local.Beneficiary, crypto.ToECDSAPub(common.FromHex(remote.PublicKey)), backend)
+		in, err = chequebook.NewInbox(local.privateKey, remote.Contract, local.Beneficiary, pub, backend)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("unable to set up inbox for chequebook contract %v for peer %v: %v)", remote.Contract.Hex()[:8], proto, err))
 		}
diff --git a/trie/committer.go b/trie/committer.go
index 9db314d980..435da51981 100644
--- a/trie/committer.go
+++ b/trie/committer.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/common"
+	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/crypto"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/rlp"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ type leaf struct {
 // processed sequentially - onleaf will never be called in parallel or out of order.
 type committer struct {
 	tmp sliceBuffer
-	sha keccakState
+	sha crypto.KeccakState
 
 	onleaf LeafCallback
 	leafCh chan *leaf
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ var committerPool = sync.Pool{
 	New: func() interface{} {
 		return &committer{
 			tmp: make(sliceBuffer, 0, 550), // cap is as large as a full FullNode.
-			sha: sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(keccakState),
+			sha: sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(crypto.KeccakState),
 		}
 	},
 }
diff --git a/trie/hasher.go b/trie/hasher.go
index a2b385ad5b..1dc9aae689 100644
--- a/trie/hasher.go
+++ b/trie/hasher.go
@@ -17,21 +17,13 @@
 package trie
 
 import (
-	"hash"
 	"sync"
 
+	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/crypto"
 	"github.com/XinFinOrg/XDPoSChain/rlp"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
 
-// keccakState wraps sha3.state. In addition to the usual hash methods, it also supports
-// Read to get a variable amount of data from the hash state. Read is faster than Sum
-// because it doesn't copy the internal state, but also modifies the internal state.
-type keccakState interface {
-	hash.Hash
-	Read([]byte) (int, error)
-}
-
 type sliceBuffer []byte
 
 func (b *sliceBuffer) Write(data []byte) (n int, err error) {
@@ -46,7 +38,7 @@ func (b *sliceBuffer) Reset() {
 // hasher is a type used for the trie Hash operation. A hasher has some
 // internal preallocated temp space
 type hasher struct {
-	sha      keccakState
+	sha      crypto.KeccakState
 	tmp      sliceBuffer
 	parallel bool // Whether to use paralallel threads when hashing
 }
@@ -56,7 +48,7 @@ var hasherPool = sync.Pool{
 	New: func() interface{} {
 		return &hasher{
 			tmp: make(sliceBuffer, 0, 550), // cap is as large as a full FullNode.
-			sha: sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(keccakState),
+			sha: sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(crypto.KeccakState),
 		}
 	},
 }
diff --git a/whisper/whisperv5/api.go b/whisper/whisperv5/api.go
index 89e9c2860b..37c04e70aa 100644
--- a/whisper/whisperv5/api.go
+++ b/whisper/whisperv5/api.go
@@ -256,8 +256,7 @@ func (api *PublicWhisperAPI) Post(ctx context.Context, req NewMessage) (bool, er
 
 	// Set asymmetric key that is used to encrypt the message
 	if pubKeyGiven {
-		params.Dst = crypto.ToECDSAPub(req.PublicKey)
-		if !ValidatePublicKey(params.Dst) {
+		if params.Dst, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(req.PublicKey); err != nil {
 			return false, ErrInvalidPublicKey
 		}
 	}
@@ -333,8 +332,7 @@ func (api *PublicWhisperAPI) Messages(ctx context.Context, crit Criteria) (*rpc.
 	}
 
 	if len(crit.Sig) > 0 {
-		filter.Src = crypto.ToECDSAPub(crit.Sig)
-		if !ValidatePublicKey(filter.Src) {
+		if filter.Src, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(crit.Sig); err != nil {
 			return nil, ErrInvalidSigningPubKey
 		}
 	}
@@ -517,8 +515,7 @@ func (api *PublicWhisperAPI) NewMessageFilter(req Criteria) (string, error) {
 	}
 
 	if len(req.Sig) > 0 {
-		src = crypto.ToECDSAPub(req.Sig)
-		if !ValidatePublicKey(src) {
+		if src, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(req.Sig); err != nil {
 			return "", ErrInvalidSigningPubKey
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/whisper/whisperv6/api.go b/whisper/whisperv6/api.go
index 95106ee167..0ea7e0fc52 100644
--- a/whisper/whisperv6/api.go
+++ b/whisper/whisperv6/api.go
@@ -275,8 +275,7 @@ func (api *PublicWhisperAPI) Post(ctx context.Context, req NewMessage) (bool, er
 
 	// Set asymmetric key that is used to encrypt the message
 	if pubKeyGiven {
-		params.Dst = crypto.ToECDSAPub(req.PublicKey)
-		if !ValidatePublicKey(params.Dst) {
+		if params.Dst, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(req.PublicKey); err != nil {
 			return false, ErrInvalidPublicKey
 		}
 	}
@@ -352,8 +351,7 @@ func (api *PublicWhisperAPI) Messages(ctx context.Context, crit Criteria) (*rpc.
 	}
 
 	if len(crit.Sig) > 0 {
-		filter.Src = crypto.ToECDSAPub(crit.Sig)
-		if !ValidatePublicKey(filter.Src) {
+		if filter.Src, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(crit.Sig); err != nil {
 			return nil, ErrInvalidSigningPubKey
 		}
 	}
@@ -536,8 +534,7 @@ func (api *PublicWhisperAPI) NewMessageFilter(req Criteria) (string, error) {
 	}
 
 	if len(req.Sig) > 0 {
-		src = crypto.ToECDSAPub(req.Sig)
-		if !ValidatePublicKey(src) {
+		if src, err = crypto.UnmarshalPubkey(req.Sig); err != nil {
 			return "", ErrInvalidSigningPubKey
 		}
 	}